Here is some information about the breed, for anyone not familiar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowshoe_(cat)
http://www.snowangelscats.com/files/about.htm
We have one, her name is Cruz (and her nicknames are extensive: Cruzo, Caruso, Cruz-a-Meez, Sweet-a-Meeze, Meezer, Brown, Chocolate Cat, Smore-a-Meeze). I adopted her, she was the only foster cat I ever kept, in all my years of fostering. Well, actually, SHE picked ME.
I was living with a room-mate at the time (this was JUST before I met my husband) and my room-mate (very involved in cat rescue & fostering) brought this little "pink-tan" kitten home one day. When I got home from work, the phone was ringing, and it was our other cat-rescue friend calling. She said, "What do you think of the new baby?"
I was standing in the living room, looking around at all the furry faces, trying to figure out who was new (my room-mate has 7 cats of her own, I had 2 at the time, plus ten or so foster cats - yes, I know, it was THE Cat House (too many). The kitten came running into the room, stopped up short when she saw me, turned tail and ran out of the room again. I had only the breifest glimpse.
I told my friend on the phone, "Oh, it's really cute, a Siamese cross?" I tried to stifle a sigh at the thought of yet ANOTHER cat joining the crew; my room-mate was forever adding to the collection, and on more than one ocassion I had come home from a midnight-shift to find the bathroom closed up because it was housing feral kittens, or somesuch.
My friend on the phone informed me it was a Snowshow Siamese, which I had never heard of. She said there was a breeder in town, and this was one of the kittens who had been purchased, abandoned, taken in by a new family, and then abandoned again. I instantly felt sorry for the little cat, to be neglected and ditched more than once already in her short life, she only looked to be about 3 months old at the most.
She wasn't feral, although she was VERY skittish, and she charmed me as they all did eventually. I love cats, I always have, but I was happy & content with the 2 I already had, and was not interested in adding a 3rd to my own private crew. I did some internet research about Snowshoe Siamese cats and discovered they were originally a cross between the typical Siamese & the American Shorthair, and are considered to be a rare breed in Canada.
The Snowshoe kitten was not cuddly, not very friendly at all, she was quite timid, and we only held her when we caught her unawares, after she had supper, or when we happened to find her napping. MY room-mate didn't name her, although we discussed what to call her, like we did with most of the new foster cats.
One night, I was sitting up in bed with a book, as usual, when the Snowshoe kitten stealthily crept into my room. She examined my desk & chair (pretending not to see me), sniffed at the foot of my bed (without acknowledging me at all), and crawled up to sit at my feet, where she gazed at me for several minutes (very still & quiet), and I thought, "oh, good, progress. she isn't afraid anymore, maybe." I went back to my book, and before I knew it, the timid kitten had climbed up on my tummy, blocking my view of the book, and stretched out across my chest. She snuggled her little face into the crook of my neck and started to purr, loud and clear, and knead my t-shirt. My heart melted completely. She had never shown this level of affection to me or my room-mate before that moment, not even close.
Cruz chose me. She has been my special little girl ever since. She is VERY strongly bonded to me, and although she does adore her 'Daddy' too, nobody compares to me, in her eyes. She cries when I leave, she cuddles me in the most amazing, affectionate, adorable ways, while anyone else is lucky to get a few moments of lap time.
Some facts about MY Snowshoe Siamese, for comparison to other Snowshoes out there:
- very soft, fine, smooth, short coat - softer than your average Siamese, like rabbit-fur
- a very tiny, kitten-like voice, unless she is angry or having a spat with another cat, then it's like an angry kitten, haha
- she mews, very responsive, has conversations with me
- she has "facial expressions" (when I give her heck, she looks like she might burst into tears, it is really strange to see on a cat's face)
- a long & very thin tail
- very small, dainty paws
- vivid, light blue eyes, and her 'eyebrows' are very expressive (she is NOT cross-eyed, surprisingly)
- she rolls around on her back when grooming
- she 'sings' when grooming or when she wants attention
- VERY clever, she knows lots of tricks
- really sensitive to my tones & moods: if I cry, she comes running - she purrs & kneads & does everything she can to comfort me
- if I am upset, she gets visibly upset & cries
Does anyone know is Snowshoes are prone to any breed-specific health problems? I have tried to avoid purebred cats in the past because I am worried about bad genetics (I don't mean to offend anyone on this forum who IS a responsible & caring breeder, of course).
She is a beautiful & charming cat. Everyone who meets her is a HUGE fan instantly. I constantly hear "Oh My GAWD what a GORGEOUS little cat!"
Anyone else familiar with this breed? Or currently owned by one?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowshoe_(cat)
http://www.snowangelscats.com/files/about.htm
We have one, her name is Cruz (and her nicknames are extensive: Cruzo, Caruso, Cruz-a-Meez, Sweet-a-Meeze, Meezer, Brown, Chocolate Cat, Smore-a-Meeze). I adopted her, she was the only foster cat I ever kept, in all my years of fostering. Well, actually, SHE picked ME.
I was living with a room-mate at the time (this was JUST before I met my husband) and my room-mate (very involved in cat rescue & fostering) brought this little "pink-tan" kitten home one day. When I got home from work, the phone was ringing, and it was our other cat-rescue friend calling. She said, "What do you think of the new baby?"
I was standing in the living room, looking around at all the furry faces, trying to figure out who was new (my room-mate has 7 cats of her own, I had 2 at the time, plus ten or so foster cats - yes, I know, it was THE Cat House (too many). The kitten came running into the room, stopped up short when she saw me, turned tail and ran out of the room again. I had only the breifest glimpse.
I told my friend on the phone, "Oh, it's really cute, a Siamese cross?" I tried to stifle a sigh at the thought of yet ANOTHER cat joining the crew; my room-mate was forever adding to the collection, and on more than one ocassion I had come home from a midnight-shift to find the bathroom closed up because it was housing feral kittens, or somesuch.
My friend on the phone informed me it was a Snowshow Siamese, which I had never heard of. She said there was a breeder in town, and this was one of the kittens who had been purchased, abandoned, taken in by a new family, and then abandoned again. I instantly felt sorry for the little cat, to be neglected and ditched more than once already in her short life, she only looked to be about 3 months old at the most.
She wasn't feral, although she was VERY skittish, and she charmed me as they all did eventually. I love cats, I always have, but I was happy & content with the 2 I already had, and was not interested in adding a 3rd to my own private crew. I did some internet research about Snowshoe Siamese cats and discovered they were originally a cross between the typical Siamese & the American Shorthair, and are considered to be a rare breed in Canada.
The Snowshoe kitten was not cuddly, not very friendly at all, she was quite timid, and we only held her when we caught her unawares, after she had supper, or when we happened to find her napping. MY room-mate didn't name her, although we discussed what to call her, like we did with most of the new foster cats.
One night, I was sitting up in bed with a book, as usual, when the Snowshoe kitten stealthily crept into my room. She examined my desk & chair (pretending not to see me), sniffed at the foot of my bed (without acknowledging me at all), and crawled up to sit at my feet, where she gazed at me for several minutes (very still & quiet), and I thought, "oh, good, progress. she isn't afraid anymore, maybe." I went back to my book, and before I knew it, the timid kitten had climbed up on my tummy, blocking my view of the book, and stretched out across my chest. She snuggled her little face into the crook of my neck and started to purr, loud and clear, and knead my t-shirt. My heart melted completely. She had never shown this level of affection to me or my room-mate before that moment, not even close.
Cruz chose me. She has been my special little girl ever since. She is VERY strongly bonded to me, and although she does adore her 'Daddy' too, nobody compares to me, in her eyes. She cries when I leave, she cuddles me in the most amazing, affectionate, adorable ways, while anyone else is lucky to get a few moments of lap time.
Some facts about MY Snowshoe Siamese, for comparison to other Snowshoes out there:
- very soft, fine, smooth, short coat - softer than your average Siamese, like rabbit-fur
- a very tiny, kitten-like voice, unless she is angry or having a spat with another cat, then it's like an angry kitten, haha
- she mews, very responsive, has conversations with me
- she has "facial expressions" (when I give her heck, she looks like she might burst into tears, it is really strange to see on a cat's face)
- a long & very thin tail
- very small, dainty paws
- vivid, light blue eyes, and her 'eyebrows' are very expressive (she is NOT cross-eyed, surprisingly)
- she rolls around on her back when grooming
- she 'sings' when grooming or when she wants attention
- VERY clever, she knows lots of tricks
- really sensitive to my tones & moods: if I cry, she comes running - she purrs & kneads & does everything she can to comfort me
- if I am upset, she gets visibly upset & cries
Does anyone know is Snowshoes are prone to any breed-specific health problems? I have tried to avoid purebred cats in the past because I am worried about bad genetics (I don't mean to offend anyone on this forum who IS a responsible & caring breeder, of course).
She is a beautiful & charming cat. Everyone who meets her is a HUGE fan instantly. I constantly hear "Oh My GAWD what a GORGEOUS little cat!"
Anyone else familiar with this breed? Or currently owned by one?
